Peregraf
According to a statement issued by the Peshmerga Ministry, Shoresh Ismail, Minister of Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), met with Klaus Dieter Streicher, Consul General of Germany, and Colonel Lars Persikowski, Commander of German Forces in the Kurdistan Region, on July 3, 2024.
The Peshmerga Minister and the Commander-in-Chief of the German Forces in the Kurdistan Region signed an agreement to support the Peshmerga Ministry in several areas.
"The agreement is a significant achievement and an important support for the Peshmerga Ministry to develop its military capabilities and improve all administrative and military units of the Peshmerga Ministry in the present and future," said Minister Shoresh Ismail.
Shoresh Ismail discussed the reform process and relations between the Peshmerga Ministry and the German military advisors, saying: "We emphasize the importance of continuing the long-term strategic relationship between us. We thank the German people and government for their continuous support, and there will be more collaboration between us."
According to the statement, Klaus Dieter Streicher, German Consul General, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the reform process in the Peshmerga Ministry, the reorganization and unification of the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces, and the further development of their military capabilities.
According to a post from the German Consulate in Erbil on the X, the project agreements are valued at 3.2 million euros.
🇩🇪 continues its support for #Peshmerga particularly for Peshmerga reform. For this purpose project agreements worth 3.2 mio. € have been signed yesterday in Erbil by @Bw_Einsatz and @KRG_MOPE. pic.twitter.com/8rSMy3TwNV
— German Consulate Erbil (@GermanyInKRI) July 4, 2024
The German army has supported the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces in defeating ISIS by providing training, weapons, and advice.
In August last year, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited the Kurdistan Region and met with Kurdistan Regional Government officials. She stressed the continuity of her country's assistance to the Kurdistan Region. "Over the past seven years, we have allocated 50 million euros to train German forces for the Peshmerga, and since 2014, Germany has allocated about 800 million euros to the Kurdistan Region," she said.
For seven years, the international coalition, especially the United States, Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands, has been working to form a national army for the Kurdistan Region by eliminating PUK and KDP forces, using money, advice, military supplies, and other coordination.
The coalition has repeatedly expressed concern about the slow progress of the reform process, the unification of the Peshmerga forces, and the continued political struggle between the PUK and KDP within the ministry.